Trying to keep your kids engaged with learning while they are at home can be difficult. So one Dundee science class has moved their exciting and innovative lessons online.
Aimed at two to eight-year-olds (although the whole family can join in the fun – and parents are needed to help take part), Mini Professors has won accolades for delivering science lessons in an interesting and fun way.
And even Covid-19 can’t get in the way of learning!
Adam Greatrix, who runs the classes in Dundee, explained: “We’ve taken our award-winning classes and handpicked a selection of them that we felt could work well at home, using items and equipment substitutes that most households have to hand (such as a Calpol Syringe instead of a Pipette).
“Just like our normal classes, every class has an introduction to a scientific topic, two hands-on experiments, a short video and a relevant story.”
And the classes are being held live.
Adam said: “Rather than offering pre-recorded classes, we’ve chosen to use the Zoom platform, as not only is it very accessible and easy to set up on nearly any internet connected device, but it also offers a way for families to socialise in the same way that did at my normal classes.
“The parents and children can see their fellow classmates on the screen when they talk, and interact with each other in ways that I feel are very important for people’s mental wellbeing during this lock-down period.
“Of course, you can mute your microphone or stop your video at any time if you want more privacy.”
The first week of online course trials with existing clients has been a success.
“We learnt about the definition of mixing, experimented with some liquids that mix and don’t mix, mixed solids and liquids together, and used a surfactant to make some things mix that don’t normally mix.
“We even made a non-Newtonian colloid, that is neither mixed nor dissolved, but has some really fascinating properties where it turns into a liquid when you’re gentle with it, but turns into a crumbly dry solid when you’re rough with it.
“In the trials, everyone took part in the experiments, but there is always the option to watch them and repeat them later if that’s easier.”
To find out more about the online classes, visit the Mini Professors website or find Mini Professors Dundee on Facebook.
